Bukhari records on the
authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (pbuh) said, '

Your actions alone
will not save any of you.'They asked, 'Messenger
of Allah, not even you?', He replied, 'Not even me, unless, Allah were to
envelop me in His mercy. Be firm; steadfast and balanced; and journey [to Allah]
in the beginning of the day, the end of the day, and a portion of the latter
part of the night. Moderation, moderation! Through this you will attain your
goal!"

He also recorded this hadith in
another place with the wording, 'This religion is easy, none makes it hard upon
himself except that it overwhelms him; therefore be firm, steadfast, and
balanced; upon which have glad tidings! Seek help in this by journeying [to
Allah] at the beginning of the day, at the end of the day, and a portion of the
latter part of night.'

...

These noble ahadith detail a
great and important principle from which stem many issues related to the journey
to Allah while wayfareing along His Path.

Some of the Salaf said, 'The
Hereafter consists either of Allah's forgiveness or the Fire; and this world is
either a source of Allah's protection or a source of destruction.' On his
deathbed, Muhammad ibn Waasi bid farewell to his companions saying, 'Peace be
upon you, either to the Fire or to the forgiveness of Allah.'

About Imam Ibn Rajab al Hanbali (736 - 795 AH)
He was the noble Imaam, the Haafidh, the Critic, Zayn-ud-Deen ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin
Ahmad bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan bin al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Abil-Barakaat Mas’ood As-Salaamee
Al-Baghdaadee (due to his place of birth), Al-Hanbalee (due to his madh-hab),
Ad-Dimashqee (due to his place of residence and death). His kunyah was
Abul-Faraj, and his nickname was Ibn Rajab, which was the nickname of his
grandfather who was born in that month (of Rajab).

He was born in Baghdad in 736H
and was raised by a knowledgeable family, firmly rooted in knowledge, nobility
and righteousness. His father played the greatest role in directing him towards
the beneficial knowledge.

Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab, may
Allaah have mercy on him, was deeply attached to the works of Shaikh-ul-Islaam
Ibn Taimiyyah, for he would issue legal rulings according to them and would
constantly reference his books. This is since he served as a student under Ibn
Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, the most outstanding student of Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn
Taimiyyah, may Allah have mercy on all of them. But in spite of this, he (rahimahullaah)
wasn’t a blind follower or a fanatical adherent (to his teacher). Rather, he
would review, authenticate, verify and follow the evidences.

Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab, may
Allaah have mercy on him passed to the realm of the Akhira in Ramadaan, 795H.
He died while in Damascus. Click here For More